Mike Walsh

After being made redundant by Swindon Town, he became Peter Reid's Chief Scout at Sunderland. In 2003, he had a brief spell as manager of Southport, where, despite being in the top half of the table upon his arrival, they suffered relegation out of the Conference, only slipping into the relegation places on the last day of the season after a defeat away at Stevenage Borough. After a successful start to the season, Southport went on a long win less streak which saw them fall from top spot to the brink of not qualifying for the newly formed Conference North league, this was something deemed unthinkable for the Southport board who left with no decision but to sack Walsh and replace him with Liam Watson in an attempt to secure qualification. In 2004, Walsh was then asked back to Swindon Town as Andy King's assistant, but and decided to retire from the game a year later, and is now running a restaurant in Javea, Spain.

After a brief spell of taking Barrow to the top of their division, Walsh's old Everton teammate Steve McMahon asked Walsh to join him at Swindon Town as his assistant in 1997. Walsh also stayed on to assist Jimmy Quinn after McMahon's resignation late in 1998.

Walsh followed his Blackpool manager Sam Ellis to Bury as the first team coach. Upon Ellis' departure to Maine Road to join Peter Reid as his assistant, Walsh took up the reins as manager in September 1990.

In 1983, he was offered the opportunity to play in Florida for George Best's old team Fort Lauderdale Strikers. The club went bust within a season though and Walsh was quickly back home. Next stop was Manchester City but within four months he signed for Blackpool where he went on to give a further 144 league appearances.

Though born in Manchester, Walsh qualified to play for the Republic of Ireland national football team through his Irish ancestry. He made his international debut on 21 May 1982 in a 1–0 defeat to Chile in Santiago and went on to play three more times for his adopted country.

In 1981, Walsh was snapped up by Howard Kendall at Everton for £90,000 plus Jim McDonagh. Walsh was one of Howard Kendall's famous 'magnificent seven' signings. He later took up loan spells at Norwich City and Burnley.

Walsh stayed with Bolton from 1974 to 1981. During this time he made 169 league appearances (+8 as sub), scored 4 goals, and in 1978 led the club to the top flight as champions of the old second division, after narrowly missing promotion the season before.

Michael Thomas Walsh (born 20 June 1956) is an Irish former professional footballer who played for many clubs. A defender, he was probably best known as a captain of Bolton Wanderers and also for gaining honours representing the Republic of Ireland national football team.